Gate-operating mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

N SMITH GATE OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented June 27,- 1893.

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N. SMITH.

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented June 27, 1893.

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PATENT Fries.

NOAH S,MITH, OF ASHLAND, ILLINOIS.

GATE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,161, dated June 27, 1893. Application filed February 17,1893- Serial No. 462,756. (No model.)

- the county of Cass and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Operating Mechanism; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of gates object the simplifying and cheapening of the 1 construction of the operating mechanism, and rendering the same more efficient and reli-' able in operation.

To these ends and to such others as theinvention may pertain, the same consists in the gate operating mechanism, and the parts thereof constructed and combined as hereinafter specified and illustrated in the annexed drawings in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of my gate, the same being shown as closed. Fig. 2, is a like View, showing the gate open. Fig. 3, is a detail plan view of the devices for releasing and swinging the gate. Fig. at, is a side view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bolt catch on the gate-post for holding the gate closed.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a farm gate of ordinary construction, B the hinge post to which the gate is hinged in the common manner, and O, a latch post for holding the gate closed.

Pivotally connected to the upright a of the gate adjacent to the post B, and at a point above the latter, is a lever or bar D, the pivoting being effected by forking or bifurcating one end of said lever so that it will embrace the post a, and passing through the forks and post is a bolt d. The lever or arm D has a vertical swing on its pivot, to actuate the pivoted latch-bolt E, and to limit its downward movement to a horizontal position alng or extension (1 is provided on its under side to strike against the upright a. This lug d also affords the means for enabling the lever to actuate the latch bolt E, being connected with the vertical arm of the latter by a light rod or wire e. The horizontal arm of the bolt E, when the gate is closed, engages a catch 0 upon the post 0, and from which it is disengaged by an upward movement of the lever D. The catch 0 comprises a socket or notch with which the outer end of the horizontal arm is adapted to engage, and a beveled face on each side to raise said arm into position to fall into the notch. Directly over the notch is a V shaped lug c in position to be struck by the latch arm when the same passes off a face 0, and thus positively guide or force said arm into the notch.

To the outer free end of the arm or leverD are pivoted two like arms or bars F, to each of which is connected a like arrangement or system of ropes or cords for operating the gate, one being on one side of the latter, and the other upon the opposite side. Each system comprises a rope G connected to the free end of the bar F, and thence running ina line at right angles to the gate, and upward over a pulley or wheel h mounted on a horizontal bar or arm H that is attached to a vertical post I located at a considerable distance from the gate. The free end of said rope hangs in convenient position to be caught by the hand of a person on horseback or in a vehicle.

Connected to the rope G is a second short rope g that extends to and over a second pulley h on the arm H, and has on its end a weight K. The descent of the weight is limited by a stop g in the form of a knot in the rope that engages the pulley h.

On each side of the gate, in line with the post B and near each of the posts I, is a short post L having a catch Z to engage the bolt E when the gate is opened and thus hold it open. Over said catch is an inclined lug or projection Z that, like the lug c of the catch 0 is adapted to be struck by the bolt E to force the latter positively downward to engage the catch. The inclines c and Z insure the latching of the bolt notwithstanding that the gate may be swung violently and have a tendency to re-bound. Each catch Z is attached to its post L by a slotted arm, to enable it who vertically adjusted. The arms or bars F, F, have a motion on their pivotal connection with the bar or lever D, of only a quarter circle, and

from a position at right angles to the lever D to one in line therewith and back again, a stop an being provided on the latter for each, to check it when it has moved from a position in line with, to one at right angles to said lever.

The operation of the gate is as follows:-- With the gate closed, both the arms F, F will be in line with each other and both at right angles to the lever D, and the'two weights K will balance each other, each being at the lowest limit of its descent. Now if a person pull upon the free end of one of the ropes G the first eifect will be to lift the lever D, and through the connections described, raise the bolt E out of engagement with the catch 0; Then the gate being free, it will be swung away from the operator until it strikes the farther post L and the bolt E is caught by the catch Z. When the gate reaches this fully opened position the bar F of the rope that has been pulled will be' in line with the lever D, while the other bar F will extend still at right angles thereto, having been held by its stop m; and it will be seen in a position to exert an eifective leverage upon the gate to close it, said arm-being thus extended-to one side of the hinge and not being in line with the same and the weight K which is designed to close the gate, said weight havingby the movement of the gate, been raised. After passing through the gate it is simply necessary to catch and pull the rope G, to release the bolt from the catch Z, whereupon the gate will be closed by the descent of the raised weight K.

It will be seen that one weight only is raised 1 when the gate is being opened; that onewhichis on the side from which the gate is being operated remaining immovable, and its cord g being merely slackened, while the cord G is being pulled. The operation is of course the same from either direction of approach.

My gate is extremely simple and efiicient, and is notably advantageous in the avoidance of dead-centers by the use of the pivoted arms F, F, which prevent the points of exertionof power, application of power and the hinge or pivot coming in line. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

. 1. In combination with a hinged gate, a lever D to one side of the hinge, pivoted on a horizontal pivot the latch connected to said lever, the two bars pivoted to said' lever, a stop for each bar to hold it at an angle to said lever when the gate is opened, and suitable cords connected to said bars, substantially as "suspending rope gattached to said rope G,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NOAH SMITH.

Witnesses: 7

W. S. REARICK, CHAS. S. BEGGS. 

